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Page 395
such tortures on them as had not yet been devised even in hell. The phrase, a mere outlet for his current frustration, led to an idea that might be profitable and certainly was pleasant. He could and would make open search for those inept plotters. He would catch them and punish them so that damnation and an eternal sojourn in hell would be a pleasant reprieve from his attentionsand thereby he would clean his own name from any stain of treachery against de Vipont. Good! That was very good. Moreover, Salisbury could do the hunting. Salisbury's affection for de Vipont was well known. No one would doubt he was honest in his search, or that the king was in earnest about catching and punishing the guilty. And William's heart would be made easy, too.
All in all, John decided, the black look easing from his face, perhaps this was for the best. After that scene at dinner last night, if de Vipont had not come safe away, nothing could have stopped men from believing the worst. I should not have allowed my rage to push me into desiring so quick a revenge, John thought. Sooner or later, and it could not be much later, de Vipont would be embroiled in some war or other. Had not William said something about rebellious castellans? Could not the king send help to a loyal vassal? If the help was rejected, perhaps with violence, would not that be treason? Details would need to be arrangeda call for help, perhapsto lend verisimilitude, but that did not discourage John at all. It was exactly the kind of planning he enjoyed most.
Despite his total lack of interest in it, Ian was a strong runner-up for the melee prize as well as the prize for jousting. His battle with Albini had been in the heroic style of the romances all loved to hear, and after he had absorbed Leicester's remark, he was so furious that he hewed down everyone who crossed his path. In the end, the prize went to Arundel, largely because of the unspoken agreement between Pembroke and Salisbury that

 
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